33 U.S. Code § 1951 - Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to address the adverse impacts of marine debris on the United States economy, the marine environment, and navigation safety through the identification, determination of sources, assessment, prevention, reduction, and removal of marine debris.

“(1) to help identify, determine sources of, assess, reduce, and prevent marine debris and its adverse impacts on the marine environment and navigation safety;

“(2) to reactivate the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee; and

“(3) to develop a Federal marine debris information clearinghouse.”

Short Title of 2012 Amendment

Pub. L. 112–213, title VI, § 601,Dec. 20, 2012, 126 Stat. 1576, provided that: “This title [amending this section and sections
1952 to
1956 of this title, transferring section
1914 of this title to section
1954 of this title, repealing sections
1915 and
1954 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the ‘Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012’.”